Political corruption in the Balearic Islands and linguistic debates
First president of the autonomous government of the Balearic Islands (effective since 1963), Gabriel Cañellas Fons (right) was forced to resign in 1995, after many re-elections to this position. He was implicated in a vast corruption affair in which a good part of the political class was involved. There followed a political alternation between the socialism of Francesc Antich i Oliver and the People's Party, until a new corruption scandal broke in 2010 (Palma Arena), where this time left-wing leaders were involved. The socialist president had to withdraw some of his support, but this was not enough to consolidate his position and the right won the following year, when the son-in-law of the King of Spain, Iñaki Urdangarin, was compromised in a case of embezzlement of public funds, the Babel affair, which was derived from the Palma Arena case.
In the years following the global systemic crisis of 2008, Spain was not spared economic devastation, and the Balearic Islands were not spared. Employment in the archipelago is very seasonal, in winter, the situation worsens, Formentera is distinguished by a work rhythm based on the arrival of tourists. In addition to this economic problem, there was also the problem of the reform of the educational system: the government of José Ramón Bauzá decided to replace the use of Catalan in the Balearic schools with English, creating a deep social unrest on the island. The reform is finally cancelled in the fall of 2014 and the Minister of Education Juana Maria Camps is removed from office. Numerous demonstrations followed in favor of Bauzá's resignation. Since then, language policy has figured prominently in political debates. In 2016, Francina Armengol's government had made Catalan a mandatory requirement for access to a regional civil service position. In 2018, a decree was even put in place making Catalan a prerequisite for working in public hospitals in the Balearic Islands. A measure that caused indignation in the health services and the departure of some foreign doctors, even though the current health system suffers from understaffing.
Tourism to be controlled on a fragile island
While agriculture and fishing, the traditional sectors of Formentera's economy, continue to occupy a small part of the population, tourism now accounts for the vast majority of the small island's GDP. Although it was the hippies who first landed on Formentera when Spain began to open up to the outside world in the 1960s, tourism later gained in importance and began to affect the island's skyline. In the 1960s, Formentera was home to only two guesthouses. In 1980, there were more than 2,500 beds for visitors and another 2,000 15 years later! Fortunately, building laws have curbed this real estate fever, preserving the landscape of unattractive building blocks. However, if 50 years ago people lived on three francs six pennies on Formentera, this is no longer the case, and far from it. The wealthy clientele in search of exclusivity represents a large part of the tourist industry, and prices for both accommodation and food have the unfortunate tendency to reach heights bordering on the obscene in summer! In fact, the differences in wealth between visitors and seasonal workers are so great that they look like a caricature. Yet there are many workers earning a minimum wage living among yachts and luxury villas...
Another negative consequence of massive tourism on Formentera is the ecological impact. As an island, Formentera is highly dependent on imports, both for water and for food and other products of everyday consumption. In order to support the island's high summer attendance, the government is forced to increase the rate of imports. Direct consequence: an increase in the production of waste, generating itself a pollution of the seas and the grounds. Remember that the marine area between Ibiza and Formentera is a protected area by UNESCO because its funds are covered with posidonia, a plant super producer of oxygen. The 700 km² of these underwater meadows are also a sanctuary for many threatened marine species. However, it is precisely this section that passenger ferries and other supply boats use, and this continuously from morning to evening during the summer months.
As for car pollution, in 2021, the island's public authorities have decided to legally limit the number of vehicles on the road in summer. The number of bicycle lanes has also been increased: the roads linking the main towns on the island have been equipped with lanes reserved for bicycles. The "via verde" have also expanded their network: some thirty of these routes adapted to bicycles and crossing natural areas now dot the territory of Formentera. It is also possible to rent electric bicycles when disembarking from the ferry at La Savina, and the electric charging stations are self-service. These are all encouraging ecological initiatives, but they are always in conflict with economic issues.
Another ecological issue not directly related to tourism, but consequent to the abandonment of the traditional trades of Formentera: the depletion of migratory bird species. In the northern part of the island there are two large ponds - Estany Pudent and Estany des Peix - which are important transit areas for many birds. 200 migratory species are usually seen here due to the presence of salt pans, one of the few man-made ecosystems that have a positive impact on biodiversity. Tourism has gradually gained the favor of the inhabitants to the detriment of the exploitation of salt, and a decrease in this biodiversity has been observed in recent years. However, it would seem that projects to rehabilitate the salt flats of Formentera are under study.
